19/11/10
Imagine a public information announcement about wastewater systems. It might take its cue from the prime minister presenting the spending review (who was taking HIS cue from Lord Kitchener).
It might learn from pressure groups that calm rationality need not be the whole story. It might go like this:
"Citizens! Arise! Your nation’s drains need you. The wastewater system is under attack from daytime assaults, undercover sorties, insurgency, even friendly fire.
"Sewers are abused, misused and taken for granted. The consequences are bad for us all, bad for the economy, bad for the environment. Civilisation is waging war on itself. Now is the time for all true patriots to stand up and ….."
Admittedly, this would be over the top, not to say counter-productive, like the claims of many single interest groups, if not prime ministers. Yet we all know there is a problem, and that politely making the facts public is unlikely to solve it.
SNAP
Everyday there are events with consequences ranging from mildly inconvenient to totally unacceptable. Mostly the cause is ignorance or carelessness. The industry has always worked hard with stakeholders and customers to raise awareness. Some campaigns now have real momentum; without them, the damage (and misery) would be much greater. But more can be done and the industry’s Sewer Network Abuse Prevention (SNAP) group is determined to do it. They start this month online (1) and launch a joint Water UK information campaign with partner organisations in the spring.
There is no single enemy. The network is vulnerable to a variety of threats with complex causes. Each must be countered with the right strategy and equipment – the equivalent of more helicopters for some, more boots on the ground for others. Here is the latest war bulletin.
Waste Bin
The most widespread and persistent attack is still use of the sewer to dispose of items other than sewage. Bathroom and consumer items – cotton buds, nappies, condoms, sanitary products – are most familiar. The national Bag It and Bin It campaign was begun by the industry last century but still does a good job. It has generated some excellent company offspring that are building on the BIBI foundation.
Fats, Oils, and Grease
In the direct misuse category, FOG disposal is the worst problem in urban leisure districts. Companies are fighting back through a widely praised FOG information campaign with supporters such as the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health; it should get a real boost in the coming months from a new FOGc stakeholder group coordinated by British Water.
Misconnections
Misuse results in blockages and foul overflows. The effects of misconnection are more insidious but just as worrying. The industry has been calling for years for the automatic right of connection be removed (the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 almost did it, but we know what a miss is as good as). Inaction leaves it open for bodged or lazy plumbing to link wastewater to surface water drains (and pollute the environment) or surface water to sewers (and increase risk of foul flooding). Resistance is up and running in the 'Connect right' campaign, a defence force launched in January, with crack troops from companies, government and regulators.
Food waste
The last of the big four threats to the capacity of the network to do its job is the food waste disposal unit. This is the commercially promoted device in the sinks of 'luxury' kitchens that grinds and mixes waste food with clean water which then flows to sewer. It is also, unfortunately, the 'insurgent' macerator, whose boosters make much of its 'sustainability'. The claim rests on lower landfill volumes and more nutrients for wastewater anaerobic digestion.
Sounds good, but ignores two inconvenient truths, that a) sewers and treatment works are not designed to deal with a big increase in food waste; and b) the legal definition of 'sewage' does not, and cannot, include the millions of tonnes of food households throw away annually. The industry is in dialogue with 'green' suppliers and institutions who are happy to agree with the ethical living correspondent (really) at the Observer newspaper who believes that "Flushing the evidence away is an imperfect solution, but preferable to landfill" (2).
The Water UK SNAP task force has a lot on its plate, if not in its sink. Its 'umbrella' campaign will reinforce existing work and grow support at national level. As it launches in the New Year, members will be counting on you to do your bit. Wherever you are and whatever bit of the industry you inhabit. Yes we can. We’re all in it together. Watch this space.
1) www.water.org.uk/SNAP
2) Lucy Siegle, 17 October 2010
A version of this article, by Barrie Clarke, appeared in Water & Wastewater Treatment magazine November 2010
